Apparatus for extracting magnetic objects from rubbish



Dec. 13, 1960 s. G. GILLETTE 2,964,184

APPARATUS FOR EXTRACTING MAGNETIC OBJECTS FROM RUBBISH Filed Jan. 3, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 EG. i

INVENTOR. S/DA/EV G 644.5775

Anna/5V5.

1960 s. G. GILLETTE 2,964,184

APPARATUS FOR EXTRACTING MAGNETIC OBJECTS FROM RUBBISH Filed Jan. 3, 1958 3 SheetsSheet 2 INVENTOR. 5mm? G. G/uzrze- BY i v Arron/5K5.

Dec. 13, 1960 Q s. G. GILLETTE 2,964,184

APPARATUS FOR EXTRACTING MAGNETIC OBJECTS FROM RUBBISH Filed Jan. 3, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. S/0A// 6: 6744577;

BY HQ 7 Arrow/[rs APPARATUS FOR EXTRACTING MAGNETIC OBJECTS FROM RUBBISH Sidney G. Gillette, Alhambra, Calif assignor to Los Angeles By-Products C0,, Los Angeles, Qaiii, a corporation of California Filed Jan. 3, 1958, Ser. No. 706,934

4 Claims. at. 209-215 This inventionrelates to apparatus for, extracting mag netic' objects from rubbish, and includedgin the objects of this invention are:

First, to provide an apparatuswhich is particularly designed to remove metal'cans and other magnetic objects from rubbish in a. continuous, process, ,therubbish. being fed continuously into theuapparatus, and agitated and tumbled in the presence of amagnetic field, .Whereby the magnetic objects are diverted for dischargeseparately from the remaining rubbish.

Second, to provide an apparatus of this: class wherein the rubbish is fed into arevolving cylinder rotatedwith sufficient velocity that the rubbish is thrown toward the center of the cylinder, and while in free flight-falls onto a belhwhich passes around and under a magnet; drum whereby magnetic objects are retained; on the belt and the remaining rubbish falls free, and whereinmagnetic objects are subsequentl-y stripped from; the. :belt ,and ,deposited on a conveyor for separate-discharge from the cylinder.

Third, to provide in an apparatus of this, classwhich incorporates a novel magnetic separationdrum and a belt having an inclined rubbish-receiving :reach terminatingin a pass partially around said drum, and an under: lying reachextending horizontally therefrom to a position over a conveyor protected from the nonmagnetic rubbish falling-from the drum, whereby magnetic-;objects held to said-belt by said drum are stripped from the drum by the horizontal reach and-deposited on said conveyor.

With the above and other objects in view, as may appear hereinafter, reference is directed to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a fragmentary, substantially diagrammatical, plan view of the apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, substantially diagrammatical side view thereof;

Fig. 3 isan enlarged end view thereof taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, trans'versesectional view taken through 44 of Fig.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through 5-5 of Fig. 3.

The apparatus for extracting magnetic objects from rubbish includes a large, horizontally disposed, open-ended, rubbish separating cylinder 1 having annular external tracks 2 whichride on sets-'of supporting and drive wheels 3 located under-the cylinder 1. The wheels 3 are mounted on-shafts4- which are supported inbearings carried bya rectangular base frame 5 and end support frames 6.

Rubbish is directed into one end of the cylinder 1 through a feed hopper 7 from an elevated feed conveyor 8 which may be in the form of a belt conveyor. The processed rubbish discharges from the other end of the cylinder 1 through a discharge hopper 9 onto an inclined discharge conveyor 10. One of the end frames 6 is partially cut away to accommodate the discharge hopper 9.

2,954,184 Patented Dec. 13,1960

The end support frames 6 support a beam 11 which extends through the cylinder 1 near a vertical plane through the axis of the cylinder. Spaced from the ends of the beam 11 on the end support frames 6 is a pair of posts 12 which are joined by a conveyor supporting bracket 13 extending through the cylinder. The beam 11 also supports a second conveyor bracket 14.

Mounted between the brackets 13 and 14 are conventional conveyor rollers 15 over which extends a belt conveyor 16. The under or back reach of the belt conveyor 16 is supported at spaced points by rollers 17 so that the conveyor clears the walls of the cylinder 1. The belt conveyor 16 projects from one end of the cylinder 1, preferably the end into'which the feed hopper 7 discharges. The belt conveyor 16 is located at one side of the longitudinal axis of the cylinder, whereas the hopper 7 is located at the opposite side of the longitudinal axis.

The posts 12 are also connected by beams 18 and 19, and the beam 11 is providedwith short posts 20. The beam 19 is located at the upper extremities of the posts 12 and cooperates with the posts .20 to support a pair of inclined end frame members21. The end frame members are disposed over the belt conveyor 16 and slope downwardly toward and under the longitudinal axis of the cylinder 1.

The lower extremities of the end frame members 21 are provided with bearings 22 which support the ends of a magnet drum 23.v The axis of the magnet drum is located below and to one side of the longitudinal axis of the cylinder 1. The magnet drum 23 comprises a plurality of spool sections 24 which are joined end-\to-end and preferably welded or otherwise permanently secured together.

Each spool section 24 is provided with a solenoid coil 25. The spool sections are formed of magnetic material so that the ends thereof form pole pieces. The solenoid coils 25 are enclosed in a suitable nonmagnetic sleeve 26. The spool sections 24 may be tubular and thus form a central bore to receive conductors, not shown, for supplying electric current to the series of solenoids 25 Positioned over one margin of the belt conveyor 16 and behind the underside of the magnet drum 23 is a longitudinally extending idler roller 27 supported by its ends in bearings 28. Supported between bearings 29.10- cated near the upper ends of the frame members 21 is an upper idler roller 30. A belt 31 of nonmagnetic 'ma-' terial is wrapped about the magnet drum 23 and the rollers 27 and 30. The belt thus forms a rubbish-receiving reach 32 extending downwardly from the roller 30 to the upper side of the magnet drum 23, a stripping reach 33 extending horizontally and diverging from the drum to the lower idler roller 27, and a return reach 34 extend ing upwardly to the upper idler roller 30;. Extending upwardly from the rubbish-receiving reach 32 of the belt 31, at a greater incline than the belt, is a rear guard or deflector plate 35; The deflector plate extendszint'o proximity with the upper wall of the'cylinder 1.

The belt conveyor 16 is bordered by a front guard strip 36 extending from the beam 11 over the adjacent side of the belt conveyor. The posts 12 and the beam 18 support a back guard plate 37 which extends above the level of the stripping reach 33 of the belt and extends downwardly to overlie the adjacent margin of'the belt conveyor 16.

The rubbishreceiving end of the cylinder 1 is provided with an internal end flange 38. The internal surface of the cylinder 1 is provided with spiral ribs 39 extending from the flange 38 to the discharge end of the cylinder. The direction of pitch of the ribs 39 is such that as the cylinder rotates the rubbish is moved progressively toward the discharge hopper 9. Also provided within the cylinder 1 is a series of longitudinal ribs 40 extending between the spiral ribs 39. These ribs tend to lift and toss the rubbish as the cylinder is rotated.

- The belt conveyor 16 is arranged to discharge into a laterally extending, upwardly sloping conveyor 41 located at the rubbish-receiving end of the cylinder under the feed conveyor 8.

Operation of the apparatus for extracting magnetic objects from rubbish is as follows:

Rubbish-containing cans and other magnetic objects are introduced into the cylinder 1 from the feed conveyor 8 and hopper 7. The rubbish falls onto the lower side of the conveyor and is carried upwardly in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 3, by the ribs 40.

The rate of rotation of the cylinder 1 is such that the rubbish is tossed onto the rubbish-receiving reach 32 and against the rear guard or deflector 35. The rubbish so tossed is in an unconsolidated loose mass so that the cans and other magnetic objects fall freely against the belt 31 and are magnetically held against the belt by the magnet drum 23. The drum rotates in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 3, so that the cans or other magnetic objects are carried under the magnet drum 23 and propelled to the left, as viewed in Figs. 3 and 4, as the stripping reach 33 of the belt diverges from the magnet drum and releases the magnetic objects. Such objects pass over the guard strip 36 and fall onto the belt conveyor 16 and are carried thereby to the conveyor 41.

The rubbish falls downwardly from the magnet drum 23 to the lower side of the cylinder 1 and is again picked up by the longitudinal ribs 40. Simultaneously, the spiral ribs 39 tend to advancethe rubbish toward the discharge end of the cylinder. In the course of travel to the discharge end, the rubbish is tossed several times onto the receiving reach 32 of the belt so that by the time it is discharged through the hopper '9 all of the magnetic objects are removed. The non-magnetic rubbish is then carried by the conveyor 10.

While a particular embodiment of this invention has been shown and described, it is not intended to limit the same to the exact details of the construction set forth, and it embraces such changes, modifications, and equiva- Ients of the parts and their formation and arrangement as come within the purview of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for separating magnetic objects from rubbish, comprising: a relatively large open end rotatable cylinder adapted to receive rubbish; a relatively small magnet drum disposed longitudinally of said cylinder with its axis below the center of said cylinder; an idler drum disposed above and laterally of said magnet drum, a belt having an inclined reach extending downwardly from said idler drum to said magnet drum, and a stripping reach diverging from the underside of said magnet drum; means within said cylinder operative on rotation thereof to lift and tumble rubbish onto the inclined reach of said belt, whereby the rubbish gravitates to said magnet drum and magnetic material contained in the rubbish is held by said magnet drum while the nonmagnetic portion thereof falls therefrom; and a conveyor for magnetic material disposed under said stripping reach and extending longitudinally of said cylinder to an end thereof.

2. An apparatus for separating magnetic objects from rubbish, comprising: relatively large open end cylinder; means for rotating said cylinder; means for conveying rubbish into one end of said cylinder; means for conveying rubbish away from said cylinder; helical blades on the inner wall of said cylinder to advance the rubbish through the cylinder as said cylinder rotates; other blades tending, as said cylinder rotates, to toss the rubbish into the region of the axis of said cylinder; a relatively small longitudinally extending magnet drum disposed adjacent the axis of the cylinder; a belt wrapped partially about said drum and including a downwardly extending collecting reach, forming an inclined surface onto which the tossed rubbish falls, and a stripping reach diverging from the underside of said magnet drum and said collecting reach; and a conveyor guarded by said belt and magnet drum from the fall of non-magnetic rubbish from said belt and positioned for collecting magnetic objects stripped from said magnet drum.

3. An apparatus for separating magnetic objects from rubbish, comprising: a horizontal rotatable magnet drum; a sloping surface above said drum to receive rubbish and direct the rubbish over said drum, whereby magnetic objects are retained in contact with said drum to pass under said drum as said drum is rotated and the remaining rubbish falls free of the drum; means for stripping said magnetic objects from the underside of said drum; means for collecting said objects; a rotatable cylinder in excess of four times the diameter of said magnetic drum surrounding said magnet drum and spaced therefrom to form a relatively large rubbish tumbling chamber; means carried by said cylinder to lift rubbish as it falls from said magnet drum and toss the rubbish onto said sloping surface; means for introducing rubbish into one end of said cylinder; means for receiving rubbish from the other end of said cylinder; and means for advancing the rubbish through said cylinder as it is tossed and retossed on said sloping surface.

4. An apparatus for separating magnetic objects from rubbish, comprising: a subframe structure; a. conveyor supported by said subframe structure; a magnetic drum disposed above an at one side of said conveyor; a belt drum disposed still further above said conveyor than said magnetic drum; a belt wrapper about said drums to form downwardly moving reach passing from said belt drum to said magnetic drum, and a horizontally moving reach passing under said magnetic drum and over said conveyor; a deflector plate projecting above said belt adjacent said belt drum; a relatively large horizontal cylinder having a lower side passing under said conveyor and an upper side passing over said deflector plate, said conveyor, drums, belt, and deflector plate located principally in one lateral half of said cylinder, the other lateral half thereof forming a rubbish tumbling chamber; means for depositing rubbish within said cylinder; means for rotating said cylinder on said subframe structure; and means within said cylinder operable on rotation of said sylinder to carry rubbish toward the upper side of said tumbling chamber, and toss said rubbish against said deflector plate and downwardly moving reach of said belt, whereby magnetic objects in said rubbish are retained by said magnet for passage around said drum and deflection onto said conveyor.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 676,841 Edison June 18, 1901 867,744 McCabe Oct. 8, 1907 2,631,834 Butzow Mar. 17, 1953 2,685,967 Johnstone Aug. 10, 1954 

